The Silver Lining of Getting Laid Off

A little over a week ago I walked into my supervisor’s office and found out that I was being laid off. Needless to say, I felt shocked, confused, and frustrated. I felt I had a lot of unfinished business that I wanted to accomplish in that position that I will never get the chance to do. Ever since I got my first job out of college, I’ve been fortunate to always have a job with no gaps in between. This is definitely uncharted territory for me.

The Silver Lining
This post will not be a pity party for Vic. Au contraire mon frère. This is a good thing. While I earned a decent income at my last job, I wasn’t completely happy there. The job was fine and the people I worked with were great, but I knew that I would eventually need to move on if I wanted to progress in my career. So it was only a matter of time before I left. I just didn’t anticipate that I wouldn’t be the one to decide when that time came.

Everything is Gonna Be Alright
Thanks to my family’s uber frugal ways, we’ll be fine financially. Before I got laid off, our monthly expenses were about 50 – 60% of our income and we saved/invested the rest. So with a little mindful budgeting, we can get through this period of unemployment on my wife’s income. We also have a pretty decent emergency fund and investments we can lean on if our budget gets tight. Dad is Cheap for a reason – so something like getting laid off is seen as an inconvenience, not a catastrophic event.

The Next Chapter
I was debating if I should write about this experience when it first happened. It did take me a week or so to recollect myself and write again after I got laid off. I have a lot of partially written posts that would have to be revised in light of recent events. I realized that the reason why I started blogging in the first place was to share my experience navigating finances as a new father. To completely omit such a life changing event in my blog would make me feel like a fraud.

As a dad and husband there is no time to feel sorry for myself. Even though sometimes things don’t turn out how you expect them to, it doesn’t have to break you. How you adjust and adapt to these situations shows what kind of person you really are. I want to show people that getting laid off isn’t the end of the world.

So what’s next? It’s time to put myself back out in the job market. I’m not too worried about it – I have a lot of marketable skills and I know I’ll land a job eventually. My family is very blessed in that I have the luxury to be picky with the next position and not just choose the first thing that comes up out of desperation. Until then, I will take the extra time off to spend more time with my family, work on home projects, blog a bit more often, and taking some online courses to learn some new skills to add to my resume.

The best part about this unexpected time off? I get to spend a lot more time with my daughter being a stay at home dad. Now that is the best job in the world.

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32 thoughts on “The Silver Lining of Getting Laid Off”

I’m so sorry to hear that you were laid off! Unfortunately,this happens to so many of us at one time or another. This is why it’s so important for people to have emergency savings and as little debt as possible. Thankfully, it sounds like you were well prepared for this whether or not it was expected. It’s a shock in the beginning and I can relate to what you’re feeling. I was laid off at the beginning of this year, but like you, we were already financially prepared. Everyone is different, but the first week I was laid off, my shock slowly turned into anger. So the best advice I can give is for you to take a few weeks and give yourself time to adjust. Stay positive and you will find a job in no time!

Thanks! Getting laid off is a very common occurrence. I would like to use my blog to show people there is nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed of. It can happen to the best of us.

I wasn’t angry when I found out I was being let go – I honestly felt a bit of relief. I’ve been wanting to do something else for awhile now and this will just accelerate that. Having an emergency fund definitely makes this transition a lot easier!

I’m sorry you were laid off, Vic. I went through the same thing a few years ago, and like you, the safety nets I had in place saved me financially. I was surprised at how okay everything was after it happened. It didn’t break me, and it sounds like it won’t break you, either. Writing about it helps, and it sounds like you already have some healthy, helpful insight on the matter!

Thanks Kristin! Nice to know I’m not alone! I’ve been off for about a week and it’s honestly been refreshing. It’s given me a bit of time to step back and reevaluate my situation. I will definitely take my time when it comes to stepping into the workforce again.

I’m sorry to hear this news! I unexpectedly lost my job in June and was unemployed for about 3 months. It was terrifying at first, but because of the work I’d done to get my finances together, I was ok. I know you will be too. Honestly, it ended up being the best summer of my life. I was able to really focus on myself and rebuild and also enjoy more time doing the things I love.

Vic – you are so incredibly strong, and your mindset is wonderful in a life situation like this. By showing your motivation & courage – you will inspire others to not allow a life altering event bring them down. I hope you are enjoying time with your little girl, that is one of the best jobs – being a dad! 🙂

Hi Vic, I’m sorry to hear that you were laid off. (I am, however, happy to have discovered your site today.) It sounds like you’re taking a really thoughtful and positive approach to this situation as you begin to figure out the next step. And I’m sure that you and your daughter will both get a lot out of the extra time you’re getting to spend together.

Wow, yep this is a toughie! I was laid off last summer and it was one of the biggest shockers of my life. I think it is lovely that you are looking at the Silver Lining because believe it or not, this WILL be the best thing to happen 🙂 I took the Silver Lining approach as well, and after a lot of tears and panic attacks, I finished unpacking my home from the big move, snuggled on my baby girl, relaxed, slept in, created my etsy shop and used my creative juices, and was picky about my new job #blessed. I wish you luck on this mind-boggling adventure 🙂 I pray you allow it to be fun!

Thanks for sharing your experience hippyish! Definitely feels good to know that I’m not alone. In fact, quite a few people have reached out as a result of my post to help find me my next adventure!

I think I’m having too much fun, haha. 😉 It’s nice to be able to take my daughter out in the middle of the day on a weekday. I know it can’t last (unless I find that magical work from home job) but for now I’m enjoying it!

Sorry to hear the news but definitely respect that you’re looking at the silver lining and the opportunities ahead. I only know you through your blog, of course, but you absolutely seem like the sort of person who is always going to land on his feet, and you’re living in a way that lets you make the most of this time between what was and what’s going to be. Wishing you all the best.

HI Vic, I read your post a couple of hours after you wrote it and meant to say something sooner, but although life got in the way, I still want to.

I, too, am going to be made redundant as of 31/12/15, and although the thought scared me at first, I`m actually getting excited about it now. I havent been happy with work for a while ow, but it was not too bad either, so I never considered doing anything about it – until the decision was taken out of my hands, so to speak. And this made really weird things with me. I`m getting so excited about the things I could do until I find a new job that part of me actually hopes it will be quite a while. My parents instilled a work ethic in me that was probably very severe, but I also reevaluated the meaning and importance of work in comparision to the other things in life, and I have started to change my attitude.

I, too, will blog about this – still waiting for the paperwork, but redundancy, particularly in our age, can be an opportunity, and as a colleauge said: as we are all working longer now it`s quite common to have two careers nowadays. We just need pushed some times! Good luck!

PS: Totally aware that I, too, only can afford this attitude because I won`t become financially needy.

This time off has been pretty refreshing! I’m enjoying it so far. I get to spend a lot more time with my daughter and not work at a place just for the paycheck. I hope my next position will be something more in line with my values!

As long as you’re not financially needy, take advantage of this time! We are both blessed!
There’s so many things around the house or in general that we put off to the side because we spend all our days working.

No need to feel sorry. I haven`t said this in my initial comment, but they had asked for volunteers and I applied. I chose to be made redundant, for pretty much all the reasons that you mentioned. I knew for ages that I should be thinking about leaving if I want to progress my career, but I never did anything about it. I obviously needed pushed, but the financial incentive is quite good, and right now, I`m almost more excited at the thought of a bit of a break than about a different job.

Reading this was such a breath of fresh air. My fiancé had taken 4 months off to find a new job and ensure that it was one he’d be happy with! He finally accepted an offer this week, and we are thrilled. It wasn’t ever a stressful time because we had the emergency money saved and knew that things would be fine if we properly managed our money.

It’s possible to use these moments as learning lessons, and it sounds like you absolutely have the right idea. Good luck in your search, Vic!

Your comment definitely makes me feel a lot better about my situation! My wife and I are set up well enough to weather that long of a layoff as well. Admittedly, I am taking my time and not rushing into the next J-O-B right away as I want to make sure the next position sets me up a lot better for the future!

My wife and I are enjoying the extra time I am able to give our daughter. We’re bonding a lot better nowadays than I think we ever did before. It’s a blessing!